Collection items

10th-century Gospel-book, produced in Metz

Manuscript Created date: Late 10th century

This opulent copy of the Gospels was perhaps made as a gift from the bishop, Thierry I (r. 965-984) to the cathedral of...

11th-century Gospel-book, produced in Metz

Manuscript Created date: 1st half of the 11th century

In the Middle Ages, manuscripts necessary for the Mass formed part of a church’s most important treasures, together with...

9th-century collection of prayers and litanies

Manuscript Created date: Mid-9th century

Made in the third quarter of the ninth century, this manuscript contains a collection of devotional texts such as prayer...

Bilingual Psalter

Manuscript Created date: 4th quarter of the 12th century

Produced in England during the last quarter of the 12th century, this manuscript is one of only a few bilingual Psalters...

Canterbury or Anglo-Catalan Psalter

Manuscript Created date: 4th quarter of the 12th century

The Canterbury Psalter is amongst the most lavishly illustrated of English manuscripts. The luxurious decoration is part...

Chartres Bible (first of two volumes)

Manuscript Created date: Mid-12th century

The 12th century saw the production of large-format ‘giant’ Bibles. In part, their popularity was due to the needs of ne...

Chartres Bible (second of two volumes)

Manuscript Created date: Mid-12th century

Named after its probable place of origin, The Chartres Bible is divided in two volumes. (The first is now BnF, Latin 55)...

Codex Bigotianus (first of two volumes)

Manuscript Created date: 1st quarter of the 8th century

Gospel readings are a fundamental part of the Mass, and therefore Gospel-books were among the most essential possessions...

Echternach Gospels

Manuscript Created date: c. 700

The monastery of Echternach, now in Luxembourg, was founded by the Northumbrian monk, Willibrord (b. 658, d. 739), in 69...

Flavius Josephus, Antiquities and The Jewish Wars

Manuscript Created date: 1171–1180

Flavius Josephus (d. c. 100) was one of the most important historians of the Greco-Roman era. He was born in Jerusalem,...

Foigny Abbey Bible

Manuscript Created date: 4th quarter of the 12th century

This giant Bible includes the entire text of the Old and New Testaments. Each biblical book opens with a large initial l...

Gaignières Gospel Lectionary

Manuscript Created date: Early 11th century

François-Roger de Gaignières (b. 1642, d. 1715) was an art collector and scholar who bequeathed his manusc...

Gospel-book from Metz (first of two volumes)

Manuscript Created date: 2nd half of the 11th century

The scriptorium at Metz flourished under one of the illegitimate sons of Charlemagne, Drogo, who was bishop from 826 to...

Gospel-book from Metz (second of two volumes)

Manuscript Created date: 2nd half of the 11th century

The second volume of an illuminated Gospel-book produced in Metz (the first is now BnF Latin 11961), this manuscript ope...

Homiliary produced at Corbie Abbey

Manuscript Created date: 1179

Homiliaries are compilations of sermons or explanations of biblical texts, arranged according to significant days in the...